Common Potoo nests at REGUA

There are two Common Potoo nests near the lodge at REGUA at the moment. This bird is visible on the Wetland Trail by post 250 - just a three minute walk from the lodge. These photos were taken on 17 September 2012.

Common Potoo in typical resting pose. A couple of
years ago I examined potoo skins at the Natural
History Museum in Tring, UK. Basically these
things are nocturnal flying mouths.

Potoos are such strange looking birds! Note the two notches on the upper eyelid
that allow the bird to watch what's going on even with it's eyes closed - crucial
when you rely on camouflage during the day.

When there was nobody around the bird would relax
it's upright posture and occasionally even open it's
eyes and take a look around.

This bird has chosen a traditional snapped truck for
it's nest.

The second nest is located a few minutes drive from the reserve entrance near Matumbo village. I took these pics today.

The second pair have chosen a fence post and so
are much lower to the ground, and are already
incubating a chick.

You can just make out the bill and eye on this chick.